Gaming device that employs centralized determination system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to a gaming system, device, and method supportive of playing a game of chance and/or skill in a centralized gaming system. Illustratively, a method may include receiving information from a centralized gaming server describing a prize value to award a player in response to the player playing a game at a gaming device; determining a game outcome of the game results in a payout value that is different from the prize value; and providing the player with a split award that reconciles the difference between the prize value and the payout value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A centralized gaming server, comprising:
 a communications interface;   a processor coupled with the communications interface; and   a memory coupled with and readable by the processor and storing therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:
 receive, from a gaming device, through the communications interface, an electronic play request message associated with a game of skill being played at the gaming device; 
 determine a prize value to award the player for the game of skill; 
 determine information for managing the game of skill; and 
 transmit, to the gaming device, through the communications interface, an electronic message comprising information indicating the prize value to award the player for the game of skill and the information for managing the game of skill. 
   
     
     
         2 . The centralized gaming server of  claim 1 , wherein the prize value is determined prior to the player providing a skill-based input to the game of skill. 
     
     
         3 . The centralized gaming server of  claim 2 , wherein the game of skill comprises poker. 
     
     
         4 . The centralized gaming server of  claim 3 , wherein determining information for managing the game of skill comprises determining a set of hands that can be dealt to the player during the game of skill based on the prize value. 
     
     
         5 . The centralized gaming server of  claim 4 , wherein the set of hands that can be dealt to the player during the game of skill limit a number of initial hands that can be dealt to the player. 
     
     
         6 . The centralized gaming server of the  4 , wherein the set of hands that can be dealt to the player during the game of skill limit types of additional cards that can be dealt to the player after the player provides a skills based input. 
     
     
         7 . The centralized gaming server of  claim 6 , wherein the skills-based input comprises a hold selection made by the player. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a processor of a centralized gaming server, from a gaming device, an electronic play request message associated with a game of skill being played at the gaming device;   determining, by the processor of the centralized gaming server, a prize value to award the player for the game of skill;   determining, by the processor of the centralized gaming server, information for managing the game of skill; and   transmitting, by the processor of the centralized gaming server, to the gaming device, an electronic message comprising information indicating the prize value to award the player for the game of skill and the information for managing the game of skill.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the prize value is determined prior to the player providing a skill-based input to the game of skill. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the game of skill comprises poker. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein determining information for managing the game of skill comprises determining a set of hands that can be dealt to the player during the game of skill based on the prize value. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the set of hands that can be dealt to the player during the game of skill limit a number of initial hands that can be dealt to the player. 
     
     
         13 . The method of the  11 , wherein the set of hands that can be dealt to the player during the game of skill limit types of additional cards that can be dealt to the player after the player provides a skills-based input. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the skills-based input comprises a hold selection made by the player. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a centralized gaming server, comprising a communications interface of the centralized gaming server, a processor of the centralized gaming server coupled with the communications interface of the centralized gaming server, and a memory of the centralized gaming server coupled with and readable by the processor of the centralized gaming server and storing therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor of the centralized gaming server, causes the processor of the centralized gaming server to:
 receive, from a gaming device, through the communications interface of the centralized gaming server, an electronic play request message associated with a game of skill being played at the gaming device, 
 determine a prize value to award the player for the game of skill, 
 determine information for managing the game of skill, and 
 transmit, to the gaming device, through the communications interface of the centralized gaming server, an electronic message comprising information indicating the prize value to award the player for the game of skill and the information for managing the game of skill; and 
   a gaming device comprising a communications interface of the gaming device, a display device of the gaming device, a processor of the gaming device coupled with the communications interface of the gaming device and the display device of the gaming device, and a memory of the gaming device coupled with and readable by the processor of the gaming device and storing therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor of the gaming device, causes the processor of the gaming device to:
 receive, from the centralized gaming server, via the communications interface of the gaming device, the electronic message comprising information describing the prize value and the information for managing the game of skill, 
 determine a game outcome at the gaming device results in a payout value that is different from the prize value, and 
 provide, to the player, through the display device of the gaming device, an indication of a split award that reconciles the difference between the prize value and the payout value. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the prize value is determined prior to the player providing a skill-based input to the game of skill. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the game of skill comprises poker. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein determining information for managing the game of skill comprises determining a set of hands that can be dealt to the player during the game of skill based on the prize value. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the set of hands that can be dealt to the player during the game of skill limit a number of initial hands that can be dealt to the player. 
     
     
         20 . The system of the  18 , wherein the set of hands that can be dealt to the player during the game of skill limit types of additional cards that can be dealt to the player after the player provides a skills-based input and wherein the skills-based input comprises a hold selection made by the player.